JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 15-year-old boy was arrested Monday in connection with threats against Landmark Middle School.
Action News Jax isn’t naming the teen due to his age. According to an arrest report from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, he faces charges of making written threats to mass shoot him.
A school safety officer working at the school on Monday was briefed on a threat that was posted on Instagram, the report said.
The screenshot showed text that said, “Thankfully I didn’t come today, I’ll be there tomorrow (with a thumbs-up emoji). I bring my greatest weapon.”
A second screenshot showed text that said, “Drop threes in all my pics (with a smiley angel emoji), boy don’t take you (expression) outside if you don’t have a gun (with a different face emoji).”
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According to the report, another screenshot contained text that read “Are you going to the landmark?”. “Don’t come to school tomorrow handsome, I can’t shoot you.” “I couldn’t come today (smiley emoji)” “What do you mean play in your phone.”
JSO made a request to Instagram and found that the email address used to create the account matched that of an active student at Landmark Middle School.
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The school was placed under code yellow on Tuesday and all students and staff were searched, the report said. The student linked to the Instagram account was spotted getting off the bus around 9:15 a.m
Landmark Middle School Monday was one of two Duval County middle schools that “enacted enhanced security procedures” following a social media threat to conduct “shootings” at the schools, according to messages sent to parents by the principals became .
A message from Landmark Middle School principal Dr. Cicely Tyson-White, said metal detectors would be used and students’ belongings would be searched.
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Here’s Tyson-White’s full message to parents:
communication with families
“Hello families from Landmark Middle School. This is Principal Tyson-White calling. I apologize for interrupting your evening, but I know you want to be aware of this situation.
“We have been informed that someone has posted a message on social media threatening a shooting at our school. Law enforcement is currently investigating this threat and we will be implementing enhanced security procedures tomorrow morning. These procedures include using our metal detectors and searching student belongings upon entering the school. As a result of this threatening post, we will be instituting enhanced security procedures at school entry tomorrow morning. As you know, we take all threats seriously and will take appropriate steps to ensure a safe campus for students and staff. I will also update you if we get any more information. Thank you for your cooperation in managing this situation. I will update you again as more information becomes available. Good bye.”
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DCPS said it believes another person is also taking part in these threats and for that reason the investigation remains open.
“Due to the possibility that a second individual may have also ejected another threat, Landmark will continue to implement enhanced security procedures, including searching all students and their belongings upon entry to school on March 1,” DCPS said in a statement.
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Duval County School Police Commissioner Greg Burton released the following statement in response to the arrest and the investigation into the threats:
“Threats against schools, students and staff will not be tolerated. We will fully investigate any threat of violence at our schools and will engage many other law enforcement partners and resources to help identify those responsible. If it’s against the law, we’ll do everything we can to arrest those responsible. If a student is involved, that student may also face serious disciplinary action under the Student Code of Conduct. Please reassure your children that this behavior will never be dismissed as a joke or harmless child’s play.”
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